Q and A: Week of Jan. 24

Q: I love the show “The Mentalist,” and I especially love the addition of Agent Craig O’Laughlin. What can you tell me about the actor who portrays him (I could swear I’ve seen him a movie recently), and will his romance with Grace Van Pelt continue? — Lydia G., via e-mail

A: Eric Winter (left, photo by Gabriel Goldberg), 34, plays the dashing young FBI agent on the hit CBS show. Previously, Eric was best known for his work on “Days of Our Lives,” “Moonlight” and “Brothers and Sisters.” The recent movie you’re referring to is “The Ugly Truth,” with Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl, which Eric said was a thrill to work on.


“That was just a huge opportunity that (director) Robert Luketic and Lakeshore gave me,” he told me recently. “And it was really awesome; I had such a blast working with those guys. And my relationship with Katie (Heigl) and Gerry (Butler) was a ton of fun. It was a huge opportunity. It was kind of a fun, vulgar romantic comedy — it changes up from the normal romantic-comedy pace that you’re used to.”


As far as O’Laughlin’s relationship with Van Pelt: “From what I understand, they plan on doing a slow burn. Whatever happens between the two of us is definitely going to play its course. But there’s a lot to do with my character aside from that relationship. I’m not in the writing room, so I don’t know. But I know they have it well worked out, and they’ve been great with me so far.”

Q: On “Sons of Anarchy,” they refer to SAMCRO all the time. Who or what is SAMCRO? — Sonny W. in Tenn.

A: As you know, FX’s hit show “Sons of Anarchy” centers on the Teller-Morrow family of Charming, Calif. SAMCRO refers to the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original Chapter. When “Sons” returns this fall, expect some changes in the town of Charming, including a new mayor and a new sheriff.



Q: The summer series “The Glades” on A&E was a great show with good plots and characters. Will it be returning anytime soon? — Barbara E., via e-mail

A: When “The Glades” debuted in July 2010, it broke viewing records for A&E, making it the most watched, highest-rated original drama for the network, so you can bet it will be back for a second season. The police procedural, which takes place and is filmed entirely Florida, will pick up again this summer.

Q: On Christmas Day, CNN aired a show called “After Jesus: The First Christians.” Will it be aired again? — Maureen G. in Florida

A: The two-hour documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, has been a Christmas and Easter staple for the network since it first aired in 2006. While there is no official word from CNN, be on the lookout for it come Easter time.

Q: A while back, I remember watching a TV show where celebrities researched their family lineage to see where they came from and their history and all that. What was the name of the show, and will it be back for another season? — Gerry F., via e-mail

A: The show you’re referring to is “Who Do You Think You Are?” and it airs on NBC. It’s produced by actress Lisa Kudrow (who researched her own background during the show’s first season), and it will be back for its second season on Friday, Feb. 4. This season will feature Gwyneth Paltrow, Steve Buscemi, Rosie O’Donnell, Tim McGraw, Lionel Richie, Kim Cattrall, Vanessa Williams and Ashley Judd. If you missed any of the first season, it will be released on DVD on March 15.

Q: Now that Dana Delany is no longer on “Desperate Housewives,” where can I see this gorgeous and talented actress? — Stephanie D., Altoona, Pa.

A: The former Wisteria Lane resident is still on ABC, but she stars in a brand-new drama called “Body of Proof,” which debuts Tuesday, March 29. Dana (left, photo ABC) plays a neurosurgeon, Dr. Megan Hunt, whose world is turned upside down when an accident puts an end to her time in the operating room. In her new career as a medical examiner, she is determined to solve the puzzle of who or what has killed the victims. Jeri Ryan, John Carroll Lynch, Nicholas Bishop and Sonja Sohn co-star.

Q: It seems like everyone in Hollywood got married or engaged over the holidays! In a previous column, you mentioned the engagement of Shania Twain, and I hear she married on New Year’s Day. I also heard that Valerie Bertinelli got married, and Sherri Shepherd got engaged. I am missing any others? — Irene R., via e-mail

A: A few you missed are: the engagement of Natalie Portman to her “Black Swan” choreographer Benjamin Millepied (as well as the announcement of her pregnancy), the first sightings of new couple Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp, the engagement of LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian, Reese Witherspoon’s engagement to Jim Toth (although her rep denies rumors of Reese’s pregnancy), as well as the marriage of Kellie Pickler to songwriter Kyle Jacobs. On the flip side, Macaulay Culkin and Mila Kunis broke up, as did Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal. And I’m sure there are a few I missed.

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Actor Andrew Koenig's Body Found in Vancouver Park

UPDATE:

Actor Andrew Koenig, who had been missing since February 14, committed suicide, his father told reporters after his son's body was found Thursday in a park in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"My son took his own life," Walter Koenig said at a news conference in the park.

The body of the former "Growing Pains" star was found by several friends who conducted their own search of Stanley Park, where Andrew Koenig liked to walk, his father said.

Koenig, 41, was reported missing by his parents after he did not board a flight to Los Angeles from Vancouver last week.

Walter Koenig -- himself an actor, known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the "Star Trek" series -- flew to Vancouver with his wife, Judy, on Tuesday to help with the search.

"He was obviously in a lot of pain," Walter Koenig said.

The Koenigs said they received a letter from their son last week in which he wrote in a "despondent tone."

He had stopped taking medication for depression about a year ago, his father said.

Unknown to his parents at the time, Andrew Koenig sold or gave away many of his possessions and moved out of his apartment in Venice, California, before traveling to Canada, the family said.

Walter Koenig was helping the friends "get another sweep of Stanley Park" Thursday morning and was nearby when they found his son, he said.

Koenig asked others who may be considering suicide "before you make that final decision, check it out again, and talk to someone."

"If you're one of those people who can't handle it anymore, you know, if you can learn anything from this, there are people out there who really care," he said. "You may not think so and ultimately it may not be enough, but there are people who really care."

Families of those who are troubled should not ignore the warning signs, he said. "Don't ignore it, don't rationalize it," he said.

Read the entire story here.

(from CNN.com)

Actor Andrew Koenig, missing since February 14, was found dead in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, a source close to the family told CNN.

The body of the former "Growing Pains" star was found in a park, according to the source, who spoke to Koenig's father, actor Walter Koenig, after Koenig was informed of the discovery.

The source asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Koenig, 41, was reported missing by his parents after he did not board a flight to Los Angeles from Vancouver last week.

Vancouver police confirmed a body was found in Stanley Park around noon Thursday, but said only that it was "believed to be that of Andrew Koenig."

Read the entire story here.

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